The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-10-20

of The disability, and in what manner il was
incurred. After that, if he is found 10 be
unfit for further active service, the case goes TO
the President for disposal. Ii the disability is
due TO
HARD SERVICE OR WOUNDS,
the officer at once goes on the retired list; but
If the disability resulted from fault Of his own,
or from intemperate or other immoral habits.
the President may have him dropped from the
rolls, wholly retired or at discretion, may
place him on the retired list under the head Of
disability not incident TO the service"
In other cases an officer may be found per-
fcctly qualified physically, but the Examining
Board finds him deficient professionally; then
his junior steps into promotion over his head
and he may try it again at the end Of a year,
when, II he sull fails, he is liable 10 be wholly
retired. unless influence can produce an elastic
construction Of the law aud land him on the
list. Again: the Examining Board may find
that be is q drunkard, a debauchee, a liar. or
dishonest IN the payment of his debts. In
such case the law provides for his being wholly
retired, but lac usually lands
on THE RETIRED ANCHORAGE
have one such case in mind, where an officer
of considerable rank, who habitualy riyaled
the operations of the most audacious "conf-
dcnoe man in the country, was retired after
being refused recommendation for promotion,
on the theory advanced 10y his friends that " he
must be insane 10 act so.'
For years officers Of the navy, and especially
the deserving officers on the retired list, have
felt the disgrace of the present condition of
affairs, and many are buntly outspoken in
their opinion thai the list should be cleansed
by Congressional legislation.
The worst phase of the matter is, that no one
not thoroughly familiar with the personnel of
Il N.
on the retired list. For instance: The names
are arranged under different headings 20 show
why each was retired under one head Capt
ain of gallant and distinguished services during
the war; is specified as not recommended for
promotion y ITO COmmodore); this officer made
the point when ordered for examination that
the law providing for examination for promo
fion did not apply 10 his rank, and fatty re-
fused to appear, and he was mot recon-
mended." In that very same category is
another officer of lower rank who was a not
recommended" on account of his reputation
for woful lack Of the
MOST ORDINARY vERAcITy.
Another division of the list is devoted to re-
tirements for " iuc0mpetency or disability from
other causes not incident 10 the service" aud
here also disgracoful injustice is shown. One
officer fell on an icy street and amputation of
a limb followed, and another became insane
from brooding over personal troubles; yet on
the same list is another retired for chronic
alcoholism and another for debauchery. Good
company these men be for the honorable and
worthy ones of the service; Vet, unless needed
legislation comes 10 weed out this foul growth,
such men rs these write of last are as securely
provided for and as much entitled TO wear the
honorable uniform of the American Navy, as
Monitor" Wordon, Rodgers, Craven, Almy,
Ammen or Bryson, all
REAR-kDMIRALs
Examination for retirement does not neces-
sarily follow an examination for promotion, as
told Of above, for a disabled officer may himself
ask TO be RETIRED and, on the other hand, if an
officer has been a long time disabled from sick
ness, aud is unavailable for active service of
any kind, the Secretary OF the Navy may order
him beiord the board, so that if there is no hope
of recovery in q reasonable time, promotion
may 20 10 Others who are competent for work.
Family and social influence is even stronger
in directing official action in the navy than in
the army, and officers are on the retired list
whose holding ground there is
AN OUTRAGE TO THE SERVICE.
Away back in the 70's an officer came home
from a cruise in Asiastic waters, laden with
goods and curios Of great value. much Of
which has been bought for other officers with
money sent out 20 him from home. He was
burned. Later on il was found that his ac-
counts did not balance well, aud strange scan
dals began to float about. A general court
martial on a very serious charge followed after
a time, and he was sentenced TO dismissal the
sentence was commuted 10 a long suspension.
Still the scandals grew and Others were born Of
them, and matters looked extremely serious,
until one day the service was astonished 10
hear that President Grant-whom some of his
close friends knew-had placed him on the re-
tired list for disability incurred from long
and faithful service" where such names as
the blind Commodore Whiting and one-armed
Lieutenant Commander Frank o. Davenport
appear.
Many months ago-more than year-the
Paymaster of vessel in our Asiatic feet was
detected in embezzling and squandering the
public moneys in his hands, and other equally
disreputable performances. He was placed in
arrest on board the ship to be tried, but, dread
ing the sure result Of a court-martial, he
DESERTED AT YOKOHAMA
and set out in a schooner for the Arctic whaling
grounds. He was caught brought back, tried
by cOurt-martial, sentenced 10 dismissal from
service, and 10 a long term at hard labor in
State prison. He was brought 10 the United
States under guard and placed in confinement
on the receiving ship at Marc Island Navy
Yard, California, 10 await the action of the
DeCfSliiA Ol blS Navy ana inc PRESIDENT on The
sentence. He came home last January. but no
action has yet been taken, and as he is a
member Of prominent and influential family,
il is dollars 90 dimes ia the betting that be,
too. will be found incapacitated for further
service" " and reach the already much abused
list. j have heard il hinted that there is no
doubt his mind was affected when he commit
ted his crimes but j venture TO believe that
retirement would speedily clear the cobwebs
from his elOuded brain.
These are merely random examples of the
jamestown weeds Of the navy retired list, but
the list is IN the majority composed Of gallant,
energetic men whose long service has been
worthily rendered, aud whose wounds or dis.
ease came from
BATTLE AND HARD WORK
and exposure 10 climate and the elements. The
earliest act which provided in exact terms for
retirement was approved Feb 81, 1861, and
was specially enacted TO clear the medical
staff Of number Of aged and infrm officers
/ there are now but three on the last under that
law.
Prior 10 this, Feb. 2s, 1856, an act provided
| for board Of officers 20 examine every officer
OF the navy above tho rank Of Midshipman-
4 Surgeons, Pursers and Engineers were not
commissioned officers thcn--to report TO the
| President such officers as were fitted profes
sionslly and otherwise for further active serv.
ice. and the names Of such as could, with ben.
eft 10 the service, be dropped from the rolls:
also, 90 report the names Of others deemed
physically or professionally unfit for active
service, who should bo placed upon a rc
served list 10 be called upon for service onl,
In case Of war or other emergency. ThOs'